ritish-born Peter Frampton established himself as a singer-songwriter-guitarist in two late-Sixties bands, the Herd and Humble Pie. By 1975, though, he was $300,000 in debt and working solo for $500 a night. In desperation, he took the best songs he'd written over the past few years and re-recorded them in concert, hoping to capture some of that in-person excitement on vinyl. The resulting album was a two-record set, Frampton Comes Alive!, which sold over thirteen million copies. Not only was it the biggest double album to that time, but it was also number one for an incredible seventeen weeks. Three hit singles came out of that package: "Show Me the Way," "Baby I Love Your Way," and "Do You Feel Like We Do." The next year, Frampton struck again with "I'm in You" and a remake of Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." In 1978, Peter co-starred with the Bee Gees in the film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and in 1979 had his last hit of the decade, "I Can't Stand It No More."

Kiss -- the most successful heavy metal gimmick band of all time -- made their television debut as guests on a Paul Lynde Halloween special for ABC. Formed in 1973 in New York City, the hard rock group released their first national album the following year and decided to call attention to themselves through the use of outlandish effects: explosive devices, snow machines, police lights, rocket-firing guitars, levitating drums, bizarre make-up, outrageous costumes, and a bass player who both ate fire and spit blood. By the late 1970s, Gallup pollsters were reporting that Kiss was the most popular act in teenage America. Ironically, three of the four band members did not even perform on their biggest hit single, a lilting 1976 ballad, "Beth." Only drummer Peter Criss (who wrote the song) showed up for the session, at which he was accompanied by a 26-piece orchestra and a 30-voice boys choir.

Other Music Highlights of 1976:

Bernie Leadon, original member of the Eagles since they were organized in 1971, leaves the group and is replaced by Joe Walsh.

Because of booming record sales in recent years, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) creates a new platinum award, for singles that sell in excess of 2 million copies and an album that sells 1 million units. The first platinum single was Johnnie Taylor's "Disco Lady," and the first platinum album went to the Eagles for their Greatest Hits 1971-1975.

A Chorus Line opens on Broadway. It would become the longest-running musical in entertainment history.

Lasers are used in a rock show for the first time, by The Who.

Genesis begins its first tour of America.

Boston and Blue Oyster Cult score breakthrough songs with "More Than a Feeling" and "Don't Fear the Reaper," respectively.

Bruce Springsteen, while playing in Memphis, tries to sneak into Graceland to see his idol Elvis Presley. He is stopped by security guards, who quietly lead him off the grounds, unconcerned that he is a major star.

Paul McCartney begins his Wings over America tour, from which an album by the same name would be released a year later and zoom to number one.

Donna Summer's American debut single in 1975, "Love To Love You Baby," smolders up the charts in 1976 as part of the disco explosion.